4/04/2012

Corruption still costs Greece dearly

An international watchdog says petty corruption in the public sector is still costing Greeks millions of euros a year, even though the country's financial crisis has led to a reduction in the size of bribes.

Transparency International said overnight a nationwide survey for 2011 found smaller bribes were asked for and paid, reducing the estimated cost to 554 million euros ($A712 million) from 632 million euros the previous year.

Hospitals, tax offices and offices issuing construction licences are deemed the most corrupt.

The watchdog said 7.4 per cent of households reported corruption incidents in the public sector last year, marginally up from 7.2 per cent in 2010.The nationwide survey questioned 12,020 people in November and December 2010.